The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-23
An INDIAN REVOLT.
RebelliOus Crow Indians i'll Bat
tie Array in Montana.
A Fight With Troops in Which the
Hostiles Were Whipped.

On October the War Department at
Washington was informed by telegraph that
q number Of young Crow Indians, under the
leadership of Sword-Bearer, an ambitious
young chief, had fired into the agency build
ings in Montana. They had then just
returned to the agency from a successful
raid on the Piegans and were defiant and
hostile. The agent was unable to arrest
them with his Indian police and requested
that troops be sent to his aid. In the mean
time the yonng bucks were terrorizlng the
agency people. They rode about nights
whooping and yelling and occasionally firing
into the buildings and at white people OF the
locality.
Two troops of cavalry were Immediately
despatched from Fort Custer. They found
the situation more serious than was expected
Sword Bearer had ordered other Indians to
ioin his band until there were 200 or more of
them. They intrenched themselves on a
height overlooking the agency and dared the
authorities to arrest them. The two COM
panies of cavalry were not strong enough to
undertake their arrest, and three additional
troops were hurriedly sent there.
The troops, however, were instructed not
to attempt the arrest until the rebellious bucks
had auieted down. It was then thought that
after the excitement attending their victory
over their old-time enemies, the Piegans, had
subsidized the offending young braves would
surrender and bloodshed be averted.
A week later the Washington authorities
directed Inspector Armstrong to investigate
the affair. This he did, and few days ago
wired the War Department that the arrest Of
Sword Bearer and his rebeilious band was
imperative. Additional efforts were made to
get them to lay down arms and surrender:
The various chiefs were appealed to and urged
10 use their influence. But all failed and the
following dispatch from the agency an
nounces the sequel:
Scout Campbell and Interpreter Tobacco
Jake were sent to the Indian village yester.
lay morning to order the chiefs to come to
General Ruger at headquarters. Pretty
Eagle harangued the camp, and Crazy Head,
Iron Fork, Dancing Woman Kearney, Two
Belly and Spotted Horse rode before to
General Ruger's quarters The following
parley then took place:
Gen. Frank Armstrong; have been sent
by the Great Father to settle the trouble.
You must give us everything and turn over
the Chief besides the men. Gen. Ruger will
settle it his way. That's all.
Pretty Eagle-We are willing to give up
Sword Bearer, but can't give up the others.
Gen. Ruger-I wont all the bad young
men. TO Crazy Head I want Your boy,
Pretty Eagle-We will 60 back to our
Gen. Ruger-The Great Father sent me to
take the bad young men, and must have
them, They shan't be hurt, but must be
Pretty Eaele-We will 80 back and talk to
the Medicine Man.
Gen. Ruger-That is all / have to say.
Pretty Eagle and the other chiefs then
returned to their camp. The cavalry were
drawn up in full field order on the eminence
fronting the Indian position. The Indians
soon began riding about and singing war
songs.
Al the end Of the time allowed the Indians
to come in with the bad young men the cav
alry advanced, the infantry took position,
and the Indians open fire. At the first rolley,
CORPORAL Charles Sampson, of troop X. First
Cavalry, was shot dead. Private Eugene
Molloy, Of Troop K, was wounded four times.
The Indians took position in the rifle pits
and in the brush. The Hotchkiss rifle planted
its first shot beyond the Little Horn. The
next fell in the Indian camp and one Indian
and horse wele killed.
The cavalry now advanced upon the In
dians, driving them into the brush. Sword
Bearer was killed, being shot twice in the
commanded by Capt. f. c. Upham and Lieut..
J. B. Aleshire. fhe Crow scout Fire Bug
also claims to have fred the fatal shot.
Nearly all of them came into the agency,
only about twenty escaping to the hills. The
latter are now being pursued by cavalry.
The above named cover all the casualties ex-
cept one man, who was slightly disabled by
fail. Five Indians are reported dead. There
is no danger to the settlement.